Manifest destiny

Another day, another myopic scheme by Morristown Mayor Donald
Cresitello and once again an entire community is alienated.

The plan this time? Cresitello wants to buy land in neighboring
Hanover Township to build a new Department of Public Works (DPW)
garage for Morristown.

He tried that earlier this year, attempting to purchase land in
Morris Township for the same purpose. Morris Township strongly
objected, as one could imagine it might, fought the plan legally
and it was dropped.

Morristown must relocate its current garage on Early Street to
make way for the Speedwell Avenue development coming in about two
years.

But instead of looking within its own borders, the
2.7-square-mile town wants to bust out all over and place its
service departments in other municipalities.

Morristown already has a sewage treatment plant in Hanover. In
fact, the building Morristown wants to purchase, at 86 Hanover
Ave., the site of Dougherty Roofing, is located right next door to
the Morristown sewer plant.

Hanover already has a recent history with Morristown. Last year
Morristown announced it was placing solar panels on its sewer
plant. Hanover wanted the right to inspect the plant.

Morristown said no. Hanover sued but backed off after a judge
indicated Morristown had the right to install the panels.

But just because Hanover decided not to fight the panels doesn't
mean it has no fight left.

The Hanover Township Committee introduced an ordinance last
Thursday to issue $2 million in bond anticipatory notes for the
purchase of the same property.

The Morristown Council had gone along with Cresitello, voting
4-2 two days earlier to approve Cresitello's plan.

Cresitello has been urging the passage of a bond ordinance for
weeks that would allow the town to borrow up to $3.5 million to
purchase the site.

Morristown's move came despite a promise of litigation from
Hanover Mayor Len Fariello.

Fariello spoke for about 10 minutes at the Morristown public
hearing for the plan, criticizing it. But his best comment came in
one line: "Unfortunately, it appears that Mayor Cresitello has a
keen interest in governing Hanover Township," Fariello said.

The vote in Morristown appeared to be up in the air after
Democrat John Cryan, normally an almost certain vote with the
mayor, said he did not know what to make of the ordinance.

But once Independent Rebecca Feldman, previously critical of the
plan, said she would support the measure just to keep the town's
options open, the tide seemed to turn and when the vote was cast
only Republican Alison Deeb and Democrat Michelle Harris King voted
no on the bond. Deeb complained Morristown doesn't have that kind
of money to spend.

To us it looks like a case of the council simply kicking the can
down the road for a new administration to deal with.

Cresitello lost his re-election bid to Tim Dougherty in the June
Democratic Primary. Dougherty will face Republican James Gervasio
Tuesday, Nov. 3 in the race to become Morristown's new mayor.

Is there nothing at all in Morristown? It owns property. If one
walks into town hall, that huge building that years ago was a bank
office, you'll be inside the largest municipal office in Morris
County, along with Madison, and be able to view a sprawling parking
lot that's almost always half empty.

Why not tear down the building, construct a new, smaller one and
incorporate a DPW garage in the back lot.

Ridiculous, you say? Perhaps. But it's no worse an idea than
trying to create a new mini-town in one that's already taken.

Watch this discussion.Stop watching this discussion.

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